Beyoncé Knowles dominated this year's Grammy awards, taking six prizes at last night's ceremony and setting a new record for the most gongs won by a solo female artist in a single year.

The former Destiny's Child singer won song of the year, best R&B song and best R&B female vocal – all for Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) – best pop vocal performance for Halo, best contemporary R&B album for I Am … Sasha Fierce and best traditional R&B performance for At Last.

"This has been such an amazing night for me and I'd like to thank the Grammys," the 28-year-old singer told the audience in Los Angeles.

The haul took her Grammy tally to 16, including the three awards she won with Destiny's Child.

Not far behind Knowles was the country-pop singer Taylor Swift, who won four awards after being nominated in eight categories.

The 20-year-old scooped album of the year – and country album of the year – for her second record, Fearless, as well as best country song and best female country vocal performance, both for the song White Horse.

"I just hope that you know how much this means to me ... that we get to take this back to Nashville," said Swift.

Lady Gaga, who was nominated for five awards, won the recording prize for Poker Face and the electronic/dance album prize for The Fame.

Kings of Leon won record of the year for Use Somebody, as well as lifting the trophies for best rock group performance and best rock song.

AR Rahman, the Oscar-winning composer of the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, collected two statuettes in the film music section for the film's music and theme song Jai Ho.

French remixer David Guetta, who had five nominations, won the award for best remixed recording with When Love Takes Over. Film composer Michael Giacchino won two prizes, for best score soundtrack album and best instrumental composition, for his work on the Pixar cartoon Up.

Neil Young was honoured for his role as an art director of Neil Young Archives Volume 1 (1963-1972), which won the Grammy for best art direction on a boxed or special limited edition package.

Levon Helm, former singer and drummer with The Band, won his second Grammy in three years, beating former collaborator Bob Dylan among others in the Americana album category with Electric Dirt.